2023 Frugal Living Challenge

mama67

Beshki said:

I’ve done so well this month, only to ‘fail’ in the last week/few days prior to payday. It happens every month, and is frustrating. In actual fact I haven’t failed. I’ve just needed to spend more than I wanted to this week. Perhaps I need to put money aside when I get paid for ‘the last week’ so that it’s not being taken from what would have become savings. 

Could it be that if you are looking at things weekly even if receiving money monthly you have had a 5 week month as per your pay day. 

Only asking as this month I get 5 payments from DS2 for his lodge as there are 5 Fridays in this pay cycle. 

Madbat60

@Frugaldom badgers and hedgehogs are really bad news.  Foxes are OK.  My girl is hibernating but the others are eating well.  No need for fancy hog food, they love Tesco kitten biscuits.

Frugaldom

Hope your throat infection clears up soon, @cw18

@Beshki I tend to work out my budget over the full year, rather that 12 months. Some months cost more than others, so the figure is just an average. When you are under, carry that balance forward, never spend it on other things as it's your shortfall for future spends.

I'm no learning to cook in the 'Omnia' oven that I was gifted. Haven't tried baking in it yet, nor have I tried it on the logburner but I did manage to warn up some sausage rolls on the gas ring at the hut. 

Still impressed by the ivy leaf laundry wash! Wish I'd heard of it 40 years ago!

willow_loulou

Hello all 
@cw18 I hope you’re feeling better soon 

I’m not great either, the menopause and I think a uti are getting me down. I have an appointment in 2 weeks to get hrt, I’m just so over it now. 

Work didn’t help my mood, but I went shopping after for flour & yeast for slow cooker no knead bread try out. It cheered me up some. If it works to my satisfaction that should save me some trips to the shop and reduce temptation to spend. 

Tomorrow I’m redoing my budget sheet, I need to include specific dog food which is much dearer. But the pooch is worth it and much happier on it. 

I’ve been using cash for the most part which is definitely keeping me focused on my spending. Using up the change I’ve hung on to for ages and only buying the item(s) I go for. It’s why I love self service tills! 

Soontobeoap

@willow_loulou I sympathise over the menopause symptoms. Drs never did find out what was wrong with me. Didnt put any of it down to menopause. The bright side is that life does get better. I put myself on a gf/lactose free diet in the end and that helped a great deal. 

On the frugal front I have planted tomatoe seeds left over from last year. (hope they grow) and today will be starting off mini cucumbers and sweet peppers. (A bit ambitious I know) Grandsons choice. 🥰. I also have left over from last year some cut and come again lettuce seeds and some cress which I will try on windowsills  Next week I hope to start preparing veg area in garden. I have loads of bags that I filled with garden stuff 2 years ago that I am hoping will have turned into good compost now. My garden is only small but I should get completely on top of it this year. I am a complete novice but you are never too old to learn. 🙂

KajiKita

@willow_loulou - HRT has been an absolute game changer for me! It's even undone some of the additional damage caused by Covid (that aged me by a decade in the space of three weeks  ).

It can take a few goes to be prescribed with the right HRT option for you, so do persist if you are not getting the benefits you think you should. As a rough rule of thumb you will know within c. 2 weeks if it is not for you (headaches etc.) but it can take 2 to 3 months for the full effects of taking the right one to have a fully positive effect, if that makes sense.

Something else I have started taking recently (but it is expensive) is Lion's Mane mushroom tablets.  Again it has reversed some of the left over Covid symptoms and I think my cognitive function / sleep (yes, the latter also feeds into the former) has improved too.

Sending hugs as I know how 'meh' this can end up feeling.

KK 

willow_loulou

Oh here’s a reflection of my state, your two lovely replies made me blub @KajiKita and @Soontobeoap
Ive tried to be proactive today and get some much needed house work done so I can get some seeds going in the living room. I really cannot wait to not feel so wretched. 

Can anyone recommend a soil supplier? I need to replace my container soil so I can grow more veggies and in just confused by it all. 

KajiKita

By soil do you compost? In which case I would go for Sylavgrow peat free (endorsed by RHS) but if you mean top soil, I have no idea, sorry. 

KK

willow_loulou

Just pot filing compost/soil, there are SO many options but none that say ‘this is the one for pots you want to grow veggies in’  I will look at that, thanks! 

KajiKita

willow_loulou said:

Oh here’s a reflection of my state, your two lovely replies made me blub @KajiKita and @Soontobeoap
Ive tried to be proactive today and get some much needed house work done so I can get some seeds going in the living room. I really cannot wait to not feel so wretched. 

I have been cogitating on this. You need to share what you’ve told us with your GP.

Hoping it lifts soon. 

KK x